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About the Author
Kevin
Kevin is a payment processing consultant at Brookside Payments. He reads merchant statements for a living, which is exactly as glamorous as it sounds. He writes about what processors do, what they hide, and what happens when a merchant finally asks the right question. Based in Florida, most of his work happens over the phone and across the kitchen tables of business owners who just want a straight answer.
Published Articles
Industry Insights · March 23, 2026
She Already Went to Square. And Honestly? I Get It.
Industry Insights Why merchants don’t trust payment processors — and why most of them are right not to. I’m an…
Merchant Tips · March 22, 2026
Your Processor Is Counting on You Not Reading This
Merchant Tips Payment processor overcharging is more common than most merchants realize — and the signs of payment processor overcharging…
Industry Insights · March 21, 2026
Your Processing Statement Is Designed to Confuse You — Here’s How to Read It Anyway
Merchant Insider Your merchant processing statement is designed to be hard to read. Not accidentally — by design. The more…
Merchant Tips · March 21, 2026
The Questions Your Payment Processor Hopes You Never Think to Ask
Merchant Insider These are the payment processing questions most merchants never think to ask their processor. Some don’t know what…
Pricing Models · March 20, 2026
The Simple Pricing Model That Gets Expensive Fast — What Every Merchant Should Know About Flat-Rate Processing
Pricing Models Flat-rate payment processing is simple, predictable, and — past a certain volume — quietly expensive. Here is how…
Industry Insights · March 20, 2026
I Was a Payment Processing Sales Rep — Here’s What We Hid From You
Industry Insider I spent years as a payment processing sales rep for one of the largest processors in the country.…
Industry Insights · March 20, 2026
How Private Equity Is Ruining Your Payment Processor — And What to Do About It
Industry Analysis If your payment processor’s customer service has gotten worse, your rates have crept up, and you can’t get…
Fees & Interchange · March 9, 2026
Your Effective Rate Is the Only Number That Tells You What You Actually Pay — Here’s How to Calculate It
Learn how to calculate your effective rate — the real percentage you pay in processing fees. Includes formula, what to…
Pricing Models · March 9, 2026
Cash Discount Programs Explained — How They Work and When They Fit
Cash discount programs help offset processing fees by offering a lower cash price. Learn how they work, compliance basics, and…
Legal & Compliance · March 9, 2026
Before You Surcharge a Customer, Make Sure It’s Legal — A State-by-State Guide
Credit card surcharging is allowed in most U.S. states but has strict rules. Learn what’s permitted, required disclosures, and common…